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  • Water that falls to the ground west of the continental divide flows to the west to end in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Water that falls to the ground east of the continental divide flows to the east to end in the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.
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Q: How does the continental divide in the US affect the drainage of rivers?
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What separates rivers that flow east from those that flow west in North America?

The ross sea


What best explain the significance of the continental divide?

It has no 'purpose' it is a natural occurring division. The continental divide is a line that runs down through the Rocky Mountains and on the west side of the line rivers and streams flow down toward the Pacific Ocean and on the east side of the line rivers and streams flow towards the Atlantic Ocean.


Where is the continental divide located in the United states?

The continental divide is what divides the flow of water between rivers that flow to the Atlantic Basin and those that flow to the Pacific Basin. It runs north-south through the western third of the United States from Montana to New Mexico.


What is the continetal divide?

Each continent has it's own continental divide that runs roughly through the center of a continent. In North America, the continental divide starts in Alaska, runs through the Rocky Mountains, and Mexico all the way to South America. In South America, the continental divide connects with the divide of North America and then continues south through the Andes Mountains until Tierra Del Fuego. Continental divides typically go through the tallest mountains on a continent and the European divide runs through the Alps while the Asian divide runs through the Himalayas.


How was the exact line of the Continental Divide determined?

The Continental Divide is actually the area which separates westward-flowing streams from eastward-flowing waters. It is often times also considered the Rocky Mountains which in all actuality make up the area.

Related questions

What is Continental drainage?

The changing lithosphere affects the drainage patterns of the continents. The Continental Divide marks the division whereby the rivers drain west and east from the divide. Continental drainage systems were also created and are affected by the movement of ice.


What in The rockies determines the direction that rivers flow?

Continental Divide


What directions do rivers flow from the continental divide?

The Continental Divide divides the region into two large drainage areas. To the east of the Divide, waters, flow to the Arctic Ocean, to the Hudson Bay, or to the Atlantic oceans through the Mississippi River system. To the West, they flow into the Pacific Ocean


What are the west rivers of the continental divide?

The Columbia and the Colorado, are both west of the Continental Divide.


What 2 rivers are located west of the Continental Divide?

The Columbia and the Colorado, are both west of the Continental Divide.


How can you use Continental Divide in a sentence?

Continental Divide are in mountains areas from which rivers flow in different directions.


What does continental divide means?

In the USA, the "continental divide" is the Rocky Mountains range of mountains. East of that, all rivers flow to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. West of the "Continental Divide", rivers flow west into the Pacific Ocean.


What does the continental divide mean?

The continental divide is an imaginary line that separates the direction in which water flows on the North American continent. Water on one side of the divide flows towards one ocean, while water on the other side flows towards a different ocean.


This separates the beginnings of the rivers in western US?

I is the Continental Divide


Where do rivers flow when flowing west of the Continental divide?

pacific


Is a high point or ridge that determines the direction that rivers flow?

It doesn't have to be a high ridge, but in any event, it is the 'Continental Divide'.


What was formed by the Rocky Mountains and separates rivers flowing east and west in North America?

The Continental divide is located in the rocky Mountains and when you travel east to west or west to east you will see a sign in the rocky Mountains that says "you have reached the Continental divide".